User Interface options

When using multiple displays: Generally speaking you should leave this set to Optimize for best appearance but if you're having odd display behavior on your multi-monitor setup, you can try Optimize for compatibility to see if that resolves the problems. For more information seeOffice support for high definition displays.

Show Mini Toolbar on selection Select this option to show the Mini toolbar when you select text. The Mini toolbar provides quick access to formatting tools.

(Excel-only) Show Quick Analysis options on selection When you select a cell or group of cells Excel can show you tools to let you get quick insights about your data. For more information see Analyze your data instantly.

Enable Live Preview Select this option to preview the effects of formatting changes in the document before you actually apply them. This is what lets you hover over a formatting option on the ribbon and see how the change would appear without actually having to click to apply that change.

ScreenTip style Select a style to control whether the program displays ScreenTips and feature descriptions with button names.

(Excel Only) When creating new workbooks

The first two settings in this group control the default font, and font size, that will be used when you create a new workbook. The third setting in this group lets you specify the default view, in case you prefer something other than Normal. The fourth setting bears just a bit more explanation:

Include this many sheets: By default new workbooks in Excel start with just 1 sheet. If you know that you'd like your workbooks to start with more sheets than that, adjust this setting.

Personalize your copy of Office

User name Type a name in the User name box to change your displayed user name.

Always use these values regardless of sign in to Office Select this option if you want the program to display this user name and these initials even if you sign in to Office with an account that displays different information. This is handy for shared computers that have multiple users but if you always want the user name and initials properties to be the same.

Office Background Choose from a list of built-in background patterns. For more information see Add an Office background.

Office Theme Choose from a list of built-in Office themes to change the color scheme of Office. For more information see Change the Office theme.

Office intelligent services (Office 365 Subscribers only)

This section has just a single option, which lets you enable or disable Office intelligent services. Intelligent services are things like PowerPoint Designer or Translator.

Start up options

Choose the extensions you want [application] to open by default: If, for example, you want Excel to be your default program for opening things like CSV files click the Default Programs... button and follow the steps to set Excel as the default program. This is also a good tool if Office files are opening in a program other than the Office program you expect them to for some reason.

Tell me if [Program] isn't the default program for viewing and editing documents Select this option if you want to be prompted to set the Office program as your default application for viewing and editing documents when the program detects that it isn't the default already.

Show the start screen when [Program] starts Clear this check box if you want to bypass the start screen when you open the program.

User Interface options

Show Mini Toolbar on selection Select this option to show the Mini toolbar when you select text. The Mini toolbar provides quick access to formatting tools.

Enable Live Preview Select this option to preview the effects of formatting changes in the document.

ScreenTip style Select a style to control whether the program displays screentips and feature descriptions with button names.

Personalize your copy of Office

Always use these values regardless of sign in to Office Select this option if you want the program to display this user name and these initials even if you sign in to Office with an account that displays different information.

Office Background Choose from a list of built-in background patterns.

Office Theme Choose from a list of built-in Office themes.

Start up options

Tell me if [Program] isn't the default program for viewing and editing documents Select this option if you want to be prompted to set the Office program as your default application for viewing and editing documents.

Show the start screen when [Program] starts Clear this check box if you want to bypass the start screen when you open the program.